Carnegie Museum of Natural History

One of the Four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh

Homeschool Classes

children visiting the museum for a homeschool class

Explore the natural world in Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s homeschool classes. Students ages 5-18 from the local homeschool community can attend sessions designed to complement homeschool science curriculums and make homeschooling more convenient, interactive, and engaging for your family.

Insect Extravaganza

Ages 5-7
Meets on Mondays: October 7, 14, 21, 28, and November 4
Class times: 1-3:30 p.m.
Last day to register is September 30, 2019

Grab a magnifying glass and explore the world of bugs! Compete in the “Pitts-bug Marathon” as you learn how insects move, crawl, walk, and fly. Meet real, live bugs and learn how they help the environment. Observe insects under the microscope and see how you can help protect their habitats. Build your own bug, go on scavenger hunts, and venture outside to uncover nearby insect habitats.

Jurassic Planet

Ages 8-10
Meets on Mondays: October 7, 14, 21, 28, and November 4
Class times: 1-3:30 p.m.
Last day to register is September 30, 2019

Piece together prehistoric evidence as you investigate how dinosaurs lived and why they died. Extract DNA from modern-day relatives of the dinosaurs. Take a hike through the museum and nearby Schenley Park to compare your world to that of the dinosaurs. Create a model habitat, complete with a life-size dinosaur mural, as you create your own dinosaur diorama.

PGHology—The Natural History of Pittsburgh

Ages 11-13
Meets on Mondays: October 7, 14, 21, 28, and November 4
Class times: 1-3:30 p.m.
Last day to register is September 30, 2019

Discover what makes Pittsburgh more than the “Steel City.” Examine geologic evidence to understand the natural features upon which our city is built. Navigate through Pittsburgh’s kaleidoscope of cultural traditions and visit the Nationality Rooms in the University of Pittsburgh’s Cathedral of Learning. Explore how Pittsburgh, its industry, and its people have changed through time, and learn what you can do to make city life better for all of Pittsburgh’s inhabitants.

Environmental Science I

Ages 14-18
Meets on Mondays: October 7, 14, 21, 28, and November 4
Class times: 1-3:30 p.m.
Last day to register is September 30, 2019

This fall, explore the foundational principles of ecosystems and biodiversity in the first of this year’s three-part Environmental Science series. Delve into this interdisciplinary field of study to deepen your understanding of the natural world. Interpret Earth’s terrestrial and aquatic biomes to infer regional ecosystems. Examine food chains within biomes and follow the transfer of energy. Explore biodiversity and how it sustains ecosystems. Transform scientific knowledge into practice as you gain experience with bioaccumulation and trophic levels.

Enrollment in all three sections is not required, but students who complete all three parts of the series will receive a certificate of achievement.

Refund Policy

For multi-session classes, full refund less $10 handling fee for withdrawals made at least one week before program begins. Withdrawals made less than one week before the program starts, but before the second class session, are subject to a fee of $10 plus the pro-rated cost of a single class. No refunds after the second class has met.

Inclement Weather Policy

For children’s programs scheduled to occur December through March, the following inclement weather policy will be used: Should hazardous conditions result in cancellation of classes, announcements will be made on television stations KDKA, WTAE, WPXI, and FOX. Decisions are based on the needs of all students and instructors, some of whom drive considerable distances to Oakland. Makeup days may be scheduled for missed classes. During any inclement weather, please use your own discretion to attend for your own safety and that of your student.